Tag Archives: Jonathan Broxton

Every season has one, a stretch of games defining how the year plays out. The Mets are in such a stretch and it is all right to wave the red flag.

Their losing streak is at five after last night’s devastating loss at Washington. They’ve lost eight of 11. Eight games over .500 is down to a shaky two. All season there was a nagging feeling the Mets were playing over their heads.

Could it be true?

The Mets are in the midst of 20 straight games without an off-day, including five more games with the Nationals and a West Coast trip to Arizona, San Francisco and San Diego, places they traditionally have not played well.

It also includes the trade deadline and whether the Mets will add pitching. They need a starter with Dillon Gee out. And, of course, you didn’t need to see last night’s game to know they need bullpen help.

The Royals designated Jonathan Sanchez for assignment. If the Mets have a chance to sign him they should. He’s still a raw talent, one with a no-hitter on his resume.. A change of scenery and return to the National League could be what he needs. And, it allows Matt Harvey more developmental time.

Reportedly, the Mets are considering Royals closer Jonathan Broxton. Perhaps the most important number regarding to Broxton is the roughly $2 million they’d have to pay him for the balance of the season. That’s a very affordable price for a chance to salvage a season.

Will the Mets get both or either? Should they regroup, beginning with Chris Young’s start tonight, and get on a roll in the two weeks left before the deadline, there’s still a chance for this to be a fun year. But, for that to happen, they must add pitching.

What was it Tug McGraw once said?

“You Gotta Believe.” It doesn’t matter if we do. It only matters if they do, and play like it.

Two nights ago the Dodgers were one out away from tying their NLCS at two games each with Philadelphia until Jimmy Rollins did what money players do.

Down by a run in the ninth with two outs, Rollins lined a two-run double off All-Star closer Jonathan Broxton into the right-center gap to push the Dodgers onto the brink of winter.

Hamels vs. Padilla

“This is big,” Rollins said. “The pressure’s all on them. … We understand we still have a job to do. We look forward to trying to close it out.”

With a win tonight, Dodgers manager Joe Torre said the pressure reverts back to Philadelphia because the series would return to Los Angeles. Torre knows it is possible. While managing the Yankees in 2001, New York lost its first two games against Oakland in the ALDS, but ran the table to advance. Then, in 2004, his Yankees blew a 3-0 series lead and lost to Boston in the ALCS.

Game 6 Friday in LA is contingent on the Dodgers beating Cole Hamels, who has given up eight runs in 10 1/3 innings this postseason.

“Any time you hand him the ball, I think he’s capable of going out there and shutting the other team out,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said of Hamels, who is 5-0 with a 2.19 ERA in seven career starts against Los Angeles.

Vicente Padilla starts for Los Angeles, and his biggest obstacle is Ryan Howard, who has driven in at least one run in eight straight postseason games, and is 5-for-13 (.385) with two home runs, eight RBI in this series.